Opinion: The Arsene Wenger-Arsenal love story is over and it's time to move on

Opinion: The Arsene Wenger-Arsenal love story is over and it's time to move on

Arsenal are going through a horrid run but Arsene Wenger, despite all the cries of 'WengerOut', continues to live to fight another day.

advertisement

Ranit Das

London

March 6, 2018

UPDATED: March 6, 2018 17:50 IST

Arsenal fans Arsene Wenger to be thrown out of the club with immediate effect (Reuters Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League

Arsenal has won only four of their 14 games in 2018

Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2003-04

They say all good things come to an end and the way it ends depends on the people concerned. You can either end it on a happy note and not let the past haunt you going forward or just stay on until it is just inevitable. And sadly, it is the latter for one of world football's most decorated and loved football manager -- Arsene Wenger.

Wenger's story from making his name as an impressive, attractive prospect in France to a Alex Ferguson stopper in the most fiercely contested league in the world is well documented. It was his grit, determination, passion and attractive football that gave English football a new ray of light and a hope that Manchester United can be stopped back in the late 1990's.

From there, he had a tremendous decade with the London club, which included an 'invincible' season in 2003-04. Oh! What a team and season that was. From Jens Lehmann at the back to rocks in front of him in Sol Campbell and Kolo Toure, Ashley Cole and Lauren and a bully in Patrick Vieira ahead of them. The stability at the back allowed Arsenal's frontmen in Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Thierry Henry to spread their wings and fly -- and what flight they took. They won 26 games and drew 12 in the league and beat Manchester United to the title -- their third and last Premier League title under Wenger.(Premier League: Arsene Wenger's misery continues as Arsenal go down to Brighton)

Arsenal won the Premier League in 2003-04 without losing a game (Reuters Photo)

It was Wenger's sheer determination and rigidity with a underlying tone of arrogance that made Arsenal unbeatable back in the days. Eight years of 'beautiful' football, providing English fans their favourite style of play -- flair and creativity. But like I said all good things come to an end and after a season or two from the 'invincible' one, Wenger's magic was fading and he was no longer effective. His best players were leaving, some pushed out, some walking out and all of a sudden, Wenger was in unfamiliar territory.

Questions were being asked about his transfer policy, little or no control from the touchline and from Arsenal it soon became Arsene Wenger...like Ferguson, he was finally successful in becoming the centre of attraction. But, definitely not the way he would have liked. As time went on, Arsenal's performances deteriorate and there was a growing sense of discontent among the fans. Soon they were divided into two groups -- #WengerIn and #WengerOut. Ferguson walked away on a high after winning the title in 2013 and it was believed that Wenger will do the same after winning their first trophy in almost a decade when they lifted the FA Cup in 2014.

But that didn't happen. Wenger went on and Arsenal finished third and won the FA Cup again the following year -- the fifth under Wenger. The opportunity presented itself again and what did Wenger do? Turn it down and amidst all the negativity and dipping performances, signed another contract extension in 2017. And soon, the #WengerIn brigade started to diminish in number, just like Arsenal's quality and points tally with every passing day.

Arsenal lost 3-0 to Manchester City twice in a week (Reuters Photo)

Fast forward to 2018 and Wenger finds himself in hot water and Arsenal facing a backlash as the Londoners, out of Champions League, tottering at No. 6 in the table and no hope of making it into the top 4 for the second successive season.

Since the turn of the year, the North London club has won only four of the 14 games they played and are currently in a three-game losing streak across all competitions. They have lost eight of the 14 games they have played this year, sending the fans into a complete meltdown. But, Wenger even after accepting the 'tough' times, is in no mood to give up and he made it clear with his charming use of metaphors.

"It's difficult when you have just the trousers on," the Frenchman said enigmatically.

"It's easy to take the trousers off as well, but when you are naked completely you have to try and find a shirt and get dressed properly again...You can't put them more down," he added.

While all this was going on inside the press-room after Arsenal's 'spineless' loss to Brighton on Sunday, a furious, disappointed and perplexed set of fans resigned to the theory of -- "until Wenger goes, things will never change."

Few days back, Hector Bellerin had come out and criticised people for their comments on a YouTube channel 'ArsenalFanTv' -- run by loyal Arsenal fans. But, sadly the Spaniard and his team couldn't walk the talk and he found himself out of the team after back to back losses to Manchester City.

Arsenal lost to Brighton 2-1 in the Premier League (Reuters Photo)

The players continued to put in 'resigned' performances, there was no passion and hunger to turn things around. Almost as if they know their manager is going and they don't want to play. But is he realising that? Ask the fans and they would say 'NO!'. From being worshipped, the Frenchman has reached a state where the fans are ready to escort him to France if that's needed to 'save' the club.

"You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain" -- is a famous line from the famous Christopher Nolan directed The Dark Knight. And sadly for Wenger, he is no longer the saviour that Arsenal needs or deserves.

His qualities -- grit, determination and passion have now turned the fairytale into a nightmare. But Wenger needs to realise that the bridges are burnt and the marriage is over and with every passing day with him at the top, the enormous love he enjoyed, is slowly fading away.

And there's no one to blame but his ignorance and love for the club. So, Arsene? Listen to the sayings and let walk out...because sometimes things don't last a lifetime and the sooner you let go, the better it is for both the lover and the loved.

Get real-time alerts and all the news on your phone with the all-new India Today app. Download from